{QTtext}{timescale:100}{font:Verdana}{size:20}{backColor:0,0,0} {textColor:65280,65280,65280}{width:320}{justify:center} {plain} [00:00:00.506] ( Silence ) [00:00:04.016] ( Music ) [00:00:36.516] ( Silence ) [00:00:39.046] >> Hi folks. [00:00:39.606] I'm Gene. [00:00:40.356] >> And I'm Dave. [00:00:41.296] >> And we're the Gene and Dave Show. [00:00:44.306] Well Dave we've got an exciting show today. [00:00:47.436] It's all about housing. [00:00:48.946] >> That's right Gene we've talked about many things [00:00:51.306] and including housing, but this time we wanted [00:00:53.836] to take a more detailed approach if you will and tell some folks [00:00:57.886] about housing in the Austin area; [00:01:02.036] how to go about finding housing, how to make it accessible. [00:01:05.226] We're going to run down all that stuff on today's show. [00:01:09.336] >> Yeah now, if you folks missed our show [00:01:12.346] on Beyond the ADA you may want to revisit [00:01:15.696] that on our webpage www.thegeneanddaveshow.com [00:01:20.516] and you will see that we talked about various access issues ADA [00:01:25.096] versus FHA, but this time we'll just talk [00:01:29.526] about finding accessible housing, and like you said, [00:01:34.106] making some accessibility amenities on existing housing. [00:01:42.306] You know Dave this is such a complex issue. [00:01:46.326] I'm not sure where to start,. [00:01:49.386] do you? [00:01:51.686] >> Well we could start at the beginning. [00:01:54.766] >> Let's do that. [00:01:55.976] I just wish we had an expert. [00:01:57.926] >> An expert? [00:01:59.096] >> You know besides ourselves. [00:02:01.466] >> Hum. [00:02:02.606] >> You built the. [00:02:03.446] >> We know several people right? [00:02:05.356] >> Yeah, yeah we know a lot of folks here in Austin. [00:02:07.826] >> There's some organizations in town. [00:02:11.186] >> You know ADAPT gets involved in a lot of the issues [00:02:16.246] with city government and other community organizations they've [00:02:21.426] got to have someone there that knows what they're doing. [00:02:24.016] >> How about Jennifer? [00:02:25.746] >> Oh, Jennifer McPhail. [00:02:27.766] >> That's right. [00:02:28.256] >> She, she's very active in that sort of stuff. [00:02:32.296] >> Call Jennifer McPhail. [00:02:33.486] >> Man if we can get her down here. [00:02:35.466] >> Which phone number for Jennifer McPhail? [00:02:40.196] >> Calling Jennifer McPhail mobile. [00:02:42.516] ( Silence ) [00:02:48.046] >> Hey, Jennifer. [00:02:49.296] Yeah, how are you? [00:02:51.506] Hey, this is Dave. [00:02:53.766] [00:02:55.256] Yeah Dave of the Gene and Dave Show. [00:02:59.096] Yeah that's right. [00:02:59.816] Oh yeah, yeah. [00:03:01.516] Oh, I'm doing great. [00:03:02.486] Hey, but we're doing a show at Channel Austin right now, [00:03:07.916] in fact we're taping and we'd love for you to come [00:03:11.896] down to Channel Austin and talk to us about housing. [00:03:16.146] Oh, yeah. You can be here really quick. [00:03:19.916] Well great. [00:03:20.426] Well we'll see you in a minute. [00:03:22.966] >> You got ahold of her? [00:03:23.796] She's coming? [00:03:24.516] >> She's on her way! [00:03:25.656] >> Excellent. [00:03:27.016] Excellent. [00:03:28.436] Man yeah because, I mean I know some, [00:03:31.896] you know some, but Jennifer. [00:03:34.846] >> Jennifer! [00:03:35.876] >> Oh, excellent. [00:03:37.276] >> Man that was quick. [00:03:39.396] [00:03:41.546] Welcome to the show. [00:03:42.956] >> Thanks I got here as quick as I could. [00:03:45.066] >> Well awesome. [00:03:47.036] Whew, what took you so long? [00:03:48.466] >> Ah, you know riding the bus. [00:03:50.196] >> Got Metro? [00:03:51.466] >> Alright well welcome. [00:03:53.686] >> Thanks. [00:03:55.476] >> Hey Jennifer you've been very active [00:03:58.136] in the Austin community now only with housing, [00:04:01.096] but with other issues related to disability as well [00:04:04.826] so we appreciate your expertise on the subject. [00:04:08.626] Now later on Dave is going to be asking you [00:04:11.406] about Visitability ordinance that you worked on so hard, [00:04:16.166] but let's talk about some other issues before we get to that. [00:04:20.566] >> Absolutely. [00:04:22.126] >> Now in the Austin area we have a choice of renting [00:04:28.556] from private folks or the city has some subsidized [00:04:34.786] units available. [00:04:37.066] I think there's 18 units available [00:04:40.596] by the housing authority for the city of Austin [00:04:44.176] and that's the route I went in. [00:04:48.916] I know when I came to Austin I was looking [00:04:50.846] for accessible housing and when I figured, and I tried to get, [00:04:56.016] I was lost trying to find housing. [00:04:58.256] I went to ADAPT and actually Stephanie gave me a list [00:05:01.486] of housing and she said, call these places [00:05:04.506] and see what's accessible, [00:05:08.956] see who has an opening and I finally got in. [00:05:13.926] They base your rent on a percentage of your income [00:05:16.986] which is really nice and the really nice thing is they've got [00:05:20.736] some wheelchair accessible units and to find it [00:05:25.076] in the private sector it's just, it's just really tough. [00:05:29.796] >> Yeah it's tough to find them just about anywhere actually. [00:05:33.446] We have the tenants council booklet we use that quite a bit [00:05:39.066] and then we use apartment finders [00:05:40.966] as well sometimes you get lucky doing that, [00:05:43.286] and sometimes it's just word of mouth. [00:05:46.276] There's places that we know of that people kind [00:05:48.946] of have a relationship with and you know if we know [00:05:52.396] of openings we'll send people there, so it's kind [00:05:55.516] of like finding a needle in the haystack, you can do it [00:05:57.796] but it takes a lot work. [00:05:59.486] Think of it as dating somebody who's playing hard to get, [00:06:03.176] you kind of have to put some effort into it to be able to get [00:06:07.456] that apartment that you want. [00:06:09.086] >> But it'll pay off in the end. [00:06:10.716] >> Absolutely. [00:06:11.376] >> But a lot of work, so. [00:06:13.946] >> I find it's always hard to like with apartment finders [00:06:16.646] and other website places that they say that it's accessible [00:06:20.486] or you know that a wheelchair can get into it [00:06:22.356] and then you get there and you know you're lucky if you can get [00:06:25.366] through the front door, [00:06:26.866] well yeah it's wheelchair accessible if we built a ramp. [00:06:29.776] >> Yeah. [00:06:30.366] >> Yeah. [00:06:30.716] >> So you've always got to check these things out really close. [00:06:32.866] >> Yeah. [00:06:33.146] >> Before. [00:06:34.196] >> Never ever, never ever sign paperwork or anything like that [00:06:37.606] without looking at it first. [00:06:39.426] >> Sure. [00:06:40.886] >> That's my big advice, that's something [00:06:43.906] that anybody should stress never ever, [00:06:46.596] no matter if you're disabled or not. [00:06:48.406] >> Right. [00:06:48.686] >> Don't sign any paperwork without seeing the unit. [00:06:52.226] They like to push that quite a bit, you know we get every once [00:06:55.686] in a while go out and test for accessibility [00:06:57.926] and you'll get the hard sell; if you move in today, you know, [00:07:02.886] we'll be able to give you a deal. [00:07:04.766] >> We've only got one left and there's somebody else. [00:07:06.666] >> Yeah. [00:07:06.733] >> Coming in at 3 O'clock. [00:07:07.896] >> Yeah. That kind of thing. [00:07:09.516] >> Yeah. [00:07:09.736] >> The next thing you know you're in a yearlong lease [00:07:14.356] and you can't get into the bathroom. [00:07:15.906] >> Yeah, check them out, right? [00:07:17.466] >> Yeah. [00:07:17.746] >> Yeah. [00:07:18.736] >> Now if you do go the HACA route, [00:07:21.296] they're not accepting applications [00:07:23.086] for one bedroom units right now. [00:07:25.836] The waiting list is really pretty long, but get you name [00:07:30.346] on the list you just can't hesitate [00:07:35.796] on these kinds of things. [00:07:37.926] Now you've been active in the section 8, we've been trying [00:07:42.496] to get those openings. [00:07:44.266] >> Yeah, there's a thing called Source of Income Protection [00:07:48.476] that we're trying to get passed, get an ordinance passed [00:07:52.636] by the city council, because what it would do; [00:07:55.436] there's a protection for like families who've experienced [00:08:00.006] domestic violence, there's protection [00:08:02.786] if you're a certain race that kind of thing, [00:08:06.056] but there's not protection based on source of income [00:08:09.136] so that people can't discriminate against you, [00:08:12.146] so if you have a section 8 voucher and you go [00:08:16.126] to an apartment they can see well we don't take section 8 [00:08:19.096] sorry you're out of luck and that's what a lot [00:08:22.376] of people face is that they're being told, [00:08:25.346] well we just don't accept it, and the numbers [00:08:27.936] of apartment units that accept it are dwindling even smaller [00:08:33.826] than they were last year. [00:08:35.376] >> And currently they're asking you like how are you going [00:08:37.966] to pay for this apartment, right? [00:08:39.306] >> Yeah. [00:08:39.796] >> And that's the way they get you in the door. [00:08:42.206] How are you going to make these payments? [00:08:43.696] And if you show them the section 8 thing, they're like oh sorry. [00:08:47.106] >> Yeah. [00:08:47.676] >> Too bad, so sad, right? [00:08:49.106] Yeah. [00:08:49.173] >> Yeah. [00:08:49.876] >> Yeah, that sounds like discrimination to me. [00:08:52.216] >> It is. [00:08:53.016] >> Yeah. [00:08:53.336] >> That's what we're working to get it recognized [00:08:56.456] so that you can go with your voucher and as long as it fits [00:08:59.966] within the parameters of the rent payment or like if they say [00:09:02.946] that they're going to pay 700 dollars for you rent. [00:09:06.316] >> Ah hum. [00:09:06.586] >> And it has to be a 700 dollar apartment. [00:09:08.966] >> Right. [00:09:09.256] >> But, as long as it fits that and you're not like a felon [00:09:13.976] or something like that then you're going [00:09:16.076] to be able to get it. [00:09:18.846] >> Now section 8 is having a opening, [00:09:23.686] an open signup period coming up. [00:09:27.466] >> Yeah, it's the 22nd through the 29th. [00:09:30.156] >> October 22nd. [00:09:32.006] >> Yeah, October 22nd through the 29th and you can sign [00:09:36.956] up at different locations around town like libraries [00:09:40.516] and Adapt office is one of the places [00:09:42.386] and the Tenant's council we share a complex with them [00:09:46.826] and so the Tenant's council is signing people up as well, [00:09:49.526] pretty much almost everybody [00:09:51.236] in our business complex is signing people up [00:09:55.196] and you can also call a number they ask that we not give it [00:09:58.886] out just yet, because they don't want to get calls early, [00:10:01.976] but if you have any questions or you're interested [00:10:04.676] in that you can call the ADAPT office at 512-442-0252, that, [00:10:12.096] you can call that anyway even before the line opens up [00:10:16.246] and if you're looking for a place I can help. [00:10:19.596] >> And we've also got the web address right at the bottom [00:10:22.706] of the screen here as well that you can go to. [00:10:25.896] Now if you sign up for that, [00:10:28.556] it doesn't guarantee you a spot for section 8. [00:10:31.546] >> Right, they are projecting something like the potential [00:10:35.736] for 40,000 people signing up [00:10:38.536] and they only have 25 vouchers available, 2500. [00:10:42.846] >> Hundred. [00:10:43.056] >> Sorry, 2500 so that's a small fraction of the 40,000 [00:10:49.306] so everybody and their brother's going to want to sign up [00:10:51.586] and everybody's got a story and everybody's worthy, [00:10:55.656] but only 2500 are going to get in. [00:10:58.956] >> Wow. [00:10:59.566] >> And how will they pick those 2500? [00:11:02.406] >> It's a lottery. [00:11:03.046] So it goes to the lucky winner. [00:11:05.456] They do have preferences like there's a preference [00:11:08.236] for disabled people, there's a preference for homelessness, [00:11:12.606] there's a preference for elderly and it gets, [00:11:16.816] I think the fourth one is domestic violence kind of thing. [00:11:22.616] I think that's correct. [00:11:24.856] >> But, the point is it only last one week the 22nd [00:11:29.286] through the 29th so if you're interested [00:11:32.086] in getting section 8 folks, check out our summary page [00:11:36.196] on our webpage thegeneanddaveshow.com [00:11:39.466] and you'll get all the information right there; [00:11:42.406] the web address, phone numbers, Adapt's number. [00:11:46.136] >> Absolutely. [00:11:47.176] And there's also the resource of going [00:11:50.286] to Travis county housing authority, [00:11:52.596] they sometimes have vouchers available, but I don't know [00:11:56.316] as much about them, but you can also look them up online, [00:12:00.356] just type in Travis County Housing Authority and see [00:12:04.676] if you can get in that way. [00:12:05.976] >> So I've heard of section 8 [00:12:08.146] and we've talked a little bit about it here. [00:12:10.036] There's also some type of 811 provision? [00:12:13.426] What's that about? [00:12:15.446] >> Eight-eleven housing it traditionally had been housing [00:12:19.786] specifically for people with disabilities and elderly only. [00:12:23.266] >> Ah hum. [00:12:23.566] >> You know so basically the rough way of thinking [00:12:27.036] about it is it was disability and elderly ghetto kind of thing [00:12:31.276] and we fought against that because we didn't want people [00:12:34.576] to be forces to live in a certain situation [00:12:37.376] because they were low income, [00:12:38.986] so in order to integrate people we put a lot of pressure on HUD [00:12:42.606] to kind of rethink how they do things so there's not [00:12:47.276] as much 811 housing in that kind of traditional model. [00:12:51.476] >> Okay. [00:12:51.786] >> There's a lot of developers using 811 funding to build units [00:12:57.416] in a community that are integrated [00:12:59.116] and that's the way we want to see it go. [00:13:01.896] >> Great, so it's getting better. [00:13:03.996] >> Yes, it's getting better, but that particular pool [00:13:08.766] of funding is kind of drying up and they're moving [00:13:12.166] to turning it into the vouchers. [00:13:15.076] >> Oh, okay. [00:13:15.996] >> Which you know, could work if they actually do it, [00:13:19.346] what seems to be happening at the federal level is that fewer [00:13:23.006] and fewer dollars are being spent on affordable housing, [00:13:26.176] so it's often falling to the local governments to deal [00:13:30.476] with it and as everybody knows if you deal with everything [00:13:34.236] at the local level it's more expensive. [00:13:36.436] >> Hum. [00:13:36.976] >> So, what's happening especially [00:13:39.716] in our community we've taken the road of investing [00:13:45.376] in general obligation bonds for affordable housing [00:13:49.806] which has been great it's built a lot of units all [00:13:52.186] over the city, and it's been a valuable asset. [00:13:55.036] They've been able to kind of deal with that loss of revenue [00:14:00.846] by doing that and we really appreciate the voters voted [00:14:05.476] for it. [00:14:07.106] >> We talked to a couple of 811 developers [00:14:10.556] and they're telling us there are no vacancies right now [00:14:14.356] and there's a 3 to 5 year waiting list. [00:14:17.346] >> I'm sure, I mean finding affordable accessible integrated [00:14:21.026] housing is like finding a needle in a haystack. [00:14:23.836] That's why so many of us live in the same units [00:14:26.696] for a very long period of time. [00:14:30.086] >> You know, when I thought, when Dave [00:14:33.576] and I first started talking about this show we thought [00:14:36.176] about the resources we knew of offhand, [00:14:38.706] and I think Stephanie told me about Accessible Housing Austin. [00:14:45.586] >> Yeah. [00:14:45.896] >> About how what a great idea, there's an organization [00:14:49.886] to help us find accessible housing and we talked [00:14:53.526] to Isabell Hedrick over there, [00:14:56.146] but it wasn't the panacea we had hoped for. [00:15:00.916] >> Well, you know, we're growing. [00:15:03.066] I'm also a volunteer with AHA and we're growing, [00:15:06.976] and we're hopefully going to get bigger and bigger and be able [00:15:10.426] to solve some of the problems. [00:15:12.086] Our dream is to get it to where we have enough units [00:15:15.226] and get enough money coming [00:15:17.046] in that we can actually subsidize the units [00:15:19.606] with the funding that we have coming in. [00:15:21.996] >> So what I, Accessible Housing Austin, [00:15:28.126] what they do is they rehab apartments and houses [00:15:32.056] to make them accessible? [00:15:33.256] >> Yeah, most of our units are duplexes [00:15:35.856] that we've made accessible and we take section 8 [00:15:39.756] and our dream is to get enough revenue coming [00:15:44.336] in from having section 8 available to us as landlords [00:15:49.296] that we can then take that money and reinvest it [00:15:52.686] and subsidizing a unit [00:15:54.776] that wouldn't otherwise be subsidized. [00:15:57.926] >> We talked to Isabell Hedrick over there [00:16:01.416] at Accessible Housing Austin, [00:16:03.336] let's take a look at that clip now. [00:16:07.306] >> Um, we're a relatively new affordable housing nonprofit [00:16:10.946] in town. [00:16:11.886] We were founded about 7 years ago in with some other members [00:16:18.806] of ADAPT of Texas as some of the founding members [00:16:22.906] and some other folks in the community who are interested [00:16:27.146] in creating a nonprofit that specialized [00:16:29.916] in affordable accessible and integrated housing options [00:16:33.516] for people with disabilities in Austin. [00:16:37.796] >> And what source of services do you provide? [00:16:40.606] >> Well we actually don't provide services, [00:16:42.746] we just do housing and our focus is housing for people [00:16:48.296] with disabilities at that scattered site throughout the [00:16:50.966] community that's really truly integrated into neighborhoods [00:16:55.106] and we, you know, we try to make the houses accessible; [00:17:02.096] if we're rehabbing them we rehab them to be as accessible, [00:17:06.206] as feasible within the scope of the rehab and we've put in ramps [00:17:12.956] and widened doorways, and making you know the handles [00:17:16.556] on the doors levered handles. [00:17:18.246] >> Ah hum. [00:17:19.336] >> In some cases we were able to put in roll in showers [00:17:22.536] and what we're doing is you know creating affordable housing [00:17:27.686] that is accessible to folks and then we you know we work [00:17:35.186] to serve folks who are low-income [00:17:38.046] who need that housing. [00:17:39.246] Where I kind of get of a sense of what kind [00:17:42.396] of household they are, what their needs are, [00:17:44.646] that their income is, how many people are in the household, [00:17:50.836] and then you know if I have something available then I will, [00:17:55.586] and I always offer to send them an application whether [00:17:57.826] or not I have a unit available immediately or not. [00:18:01.086] If I don't which is most often the case [00:18:03.586] that I don't have anything available, I'll let them know [00:18:07.386] that we are accepting applications for a waiting list [00:18:10.426] and that the, I'll go ahead and send them an application either [00:18:14.936] by email or snail mail which ever they prefer, [00:18:18.696] and they can get the application back to me with the documents [00:18:22.286] that they need and it goes onto my waiting list. [00:18:25.636] Looking for housing is really difficult in Austin right now [00:18:29.546] and it's very difficult [00:18:30.536] so one thing I make sure people know is they need [00:18:33.216] to play the long game, as well as the short game. [00:18:36.216] They need to be getting their name on to waiting lists all [00:18:41.396] over town so that if they need something it may not help them [00:18:45.686] right away, but it might help them in 2 years or 5 five years [00:18:49.566] and it's really important to do that. [00:18:51.216] So, obviously the Austin Tenant's Council is going [00:18:54.356] to have a, it's a not a dynamic list, it's a static list [00:19:02.266] of the publicly subsidized affordable housing units in town [00:19:06.766] and it's very comprehensive. [00:19:09.276] It does not for the most part include private affordable [00:19:12.536] housing and by that affordable is in quotes, it might be cheap [00:19:17.116] but it might not necessarily be high quality affordable housing [00:19:22.156] and for that, you know, you would probably look [00:19:24.666] on Craigslist or you know [00:19:29.386] if there's a neighborhood you're interested [00:19:30.826] in you drive around, you look for that. [00:19:33.636] If you have a site, even if you don't have a section 8 voucher, [00:19:36.786] but particularly if you do, [00:19:39.696] the website gosection8.com lists rental properties so do Zillow [00:19:47.916] and Trulia, I look on there and find rentals there also, [00:19:52.206] so the housing authority of the city of Austin [00:19:54.896] and then housing authority [00:19:56.866] of Travis County both administer section 8 vouchers. [00:20:01.416] There are other kinds of vouchers out there also. [00:20:05.266] There's something called TBRA [00:20:06.936] which is Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, there's Vash [00:20:10.496] which is vouchers for veterans and there may be a few others, [00:20:17.556] I can't remember them all but you have [00:20:21.376] to remember unfortunately it's pretty small numbers [00:20:24.046] of people compared to the need out there. [00:20:26.336] The need is far greater than the number of people [00:20:28.276] who actually are able to access those. [00:20:33.096] >> You know you mentioned earlier Jennifer the [00:20:39.786] housing guide. [00:20:41.606] >> Yeah. [00:20:41.906] >> By the Austin Tenant's Council? [00:20:46.536] >> That's correct. [00:20:47.236] >> Wow, what a great resource those folks are. [00:20:52.016] >> They really are. [00:20:53.116] And thank goodness it looked [00:20:55.126] like the council might have cut their budget but we got them [00:20:59.056] to restore the budget so we're happy about that. [00:21:02.996] >> Yeah, now if you've got a disability [00:21:06.146] and you're having any kind of problem with your landlord, [00:21:09.476] call the Austin Tenant's Council they can help mediate disputes, [00:21:15.596] help work things out for you. [00:21:19.346] They have access to a team of lawyers of there [00:21:24.176] and they've got a list of all the housing, [00:21:28.396] accessible units it's unbelievable. [00:21:32.796] They can't tell you exactly which ones are vacant right now, [00:21:36.006] but they can tell you where to find them. [00:21:37.676] >> Right. [00:21:38.946] >> And, in fact we spoke with Katherine Stark, [00:21:42.356] the executive director there [00:21:44.506] and we've got a little clip we can show them about that. [00:21:49.116] Here's Kathy. [00:21:49.636] >> So the Austin Tenant's Council is nonprofit in Austin [00:21:53.506] and we have two main programs. [00:21:57.226] The first main program is Landlord Tenant Assistance [00:22:00.456] and the second program is Fair Housing Enforcement [00:22:03.126] and Education. [00:22:04.966] I'll talk about the Landlord Tenant portion first. [00:22:08.856] This service is available to anybody [00:22:12.476] that lives in Travis County. [00:22:14.906] We have a telephone council line [00:22:16.446] where we can give brief information about your rights [00:22:18.956] and responsibilities as a tenant and the phone number [00:22:22.626] for that is 512-474-1961 and the council lines are open Monday [00:22:30.876] through Thursday 9 until noon and 1 until 4, [00:22:35.176] and then on Friday we're only open in the morning, [00:22:37.636] the council line from 9 until noon. [00:22:40.486] You can ask brief questions there and get some ideas [00:22:44.306] of what your rights or responsibilities are. [00:22:47.616] The second thing that the Tenant's Council does is [00:22:50.536] for folks, especially people with a disability, [00:22:53.766] if they're having problems getting repairs made [00:22:56.836] in their home and they're income qualified and live in the city [00:22:59.686] of Austin we can go out to home visits, write up the paperwork [00:23:04.526] of what repairs need to be done and act as a buffer [00:23:08.826] between that tenant and the landlord [00:23:11.116] in getting the repairs accomplished. [00:23:13.196] So sometimes that's very valuable to folks. [00:23:18.576] We'll send the certified letters on your behalf, [00:23:20.926] we'll call management, we'll work with them [00:23:22.856] to get those repairs completed that have to do [00:23:25.206] with health and safety. [00:23:26.896] We also do some walk-in counseling where people can come [00:23:30.376] in and they a half-hour session with a counselor [00:23:33.926] to get more information on their rights than they can [00:23:37.116] on a 5 minute telephone conversation. [00:23:40.436] Then also we do emergency mediations. [00:23:44.296] You call us up and your landlord has locked you out of your house [00:23:47.846] and your medicines are in there, we will do whatever we can [00:23:52.906] to get you back in to your home. [00:23:55.816] The only person that can permanently put you out of place [00:23:58.686] of residence is the courts not the landlord, [00:24:00.986] so they can temporarily deny you, but they're supposed [00:24:03.836] to let you in right away as soon as you ask for a new key. [00:24:07.016] A lot of landlords don't do that, tenants come to us, [00:24:09.936] we call up, we try to get you back in as soon as possible. [00:24:13.296] It's a 110 out today and your AC not working, we'll call and try [00:24:19.366] to get an emergency mediation going [00:24:21.656] to get your AC fixed especially if you have health issues. [00:24:25.216] We also provide and publish, and it's on our website, [00:24:29.896] the affordable housing guide and in [00:24:31.906] that guide it lists all the housing that has any sort [00:24:35.666] of government subsidy whether that's city, county, [00:24:38.856] federal government, bond programs, any sort of funding [00:24:44.386] that makes it a little bit more affordable. [00:24:47.676] Now some of the units [00:24:48.936] in the affordable housing guide are not what you would truly [00:24:52.686] call affordable, they're not, they're close to market, [00:24:57.356] they're not you know very, very low-income, but all of them are [00:25:00.886] in there and so you can use that as a guide to start applying [00:25:05.236] for places to live and getting on waiting lists; [00:25:07.736] pretty much these days it's getting on waiting lists. [00:25:10.836] The city of Austin currently is at 98 percent occupied [00:25:15.096] which means that there's only 2 percent of units vacant [00:25:17.776] of available right now. [00:25:19.246] I think it's actually even less than that. [00:25:22.276] In an affordable housing or housing that is very affordable [00:25:26.096] with deep discounts, it's a 100 percent pretty much rented up, [00:25:30.636] which means that you need to call and get on a waiting list [00:25:33.776] if you want to switch where you're living [00:25:35.326] or find a new place and it's an apartment complex you need [00:25:38.856] to call and get on their waiting list [00:25:40.916] so that you'll have a chance to get in. [00:25:44.226] We say if you really need deeply affordable housing you should [00:25:48.066] get on as many waiting lists as possible and keep up with them [00:25:52.706] and call them once a month and find [00:25:54.296] out where you are cause that's the only way [00:25:56.446] to get in these days. [00:25:58.076] I think they would come to us first to get the guide [00:26:00.396] to affordable housing, unfortunately as you know [00:26:03.286] and probably most of your viewers know, a large percentage [00:26:06.726] of folks who have a disability are living on social security [00:26:10.286] and social security disability which means that they have [00:26:13.676] to have a deeply subsidized unit in order to be able [00:26:17.316] to afford the rent, and so in cases like that you're going [00:26:21.906] to end up in one of the housing that, you know, [00:26:25.006] if you're in an apartment it's probably going to be [00:26:28.556] in our guide, okay, and so the first thing you need [00:26:31.516] to do is start taking on waiting lists, you know, because, [00:26:36.266] you know, the first thing is to get on a waiting list [00:26:38.956] and get in, the second is to get accessibility right? [00:26:42.806] >> Ah hum. [00:26:43.466] >> You know, unfortunately as tight [00:26:45.456] as housing is right now those two are crucial to you, [00:26:49.786] but you know, it doesn't matter if they have an accessible unit [00:26:52.816] if you're not on a waiting list you're never going to see it, [00:26:56.186] because even accessible units fill up these days. [00:26:59.616] >> Right. [00:27:00.146] >> And you know, it used to be people would complain [00:27:02.396] that people that don't have disabilities were in the unit, [00:27:06.266] but I don't think that that's true anymore especially [00:27:10.736] in deeply subsidized housing, I think that people [00:27:14.886] that do have a disability [00:27:16.106] if they get a deeply subsidized unit that is reasonable [00:27:20.026] and management is halfway reasonable, they don't leave, [00:27:23.786] they stay there, you know. [00:27:25.476] >> Absolutely. [00:27:26.256] >> They're not moving every year. [00:27:29.166] Under the Fair Housing Law it says that a landlord has [00:27:32.006] to make a reasonable accommodation due [00:27:34.326] to a disability, okay, [00:27:36.416] so say you get social security disability, [00:27:40.726] not regular social security, social security disability, [00:27:43.816] but that check doesn't come until the 12th, [00:27:46.666] okay and your rent is due the 1st and you're getting slammed [00:27:51.546] with late fees, you need to put in a request [00:27:55.226] for reasonable accommodation to your landlord [00:27:57.396] to change you due date to the 12th [00:27:59.166] so you're not paying late fees. [00:28:00.346] If you feel you need assistance on that you need [00:28:03.666] to call the Tenant's Council at 474-7007 and tell them [00:28:09.346] that you have a fair housing issue [00:28:11.726] and we will help you do the reasonable accommodation. [00:28:16.196] We do a lot of reasonable accommodations for people [00:28:19.436] with disabilities, all sorts of different types of disabilities. [00:28:24.796] We do where they have to change their due date [00:28:30.576] because it is a disability check and you have no control [00:28:32.976] over that and it's due to your disability. [00:28:35.896] We assist in getting parking, handicap parking in front [00:28:40.906] or close to the units if that's what you need. [00:28:43.486] If you maybe have depression and forget [00:28:49.646] to pay your rent we've sometimes gotten management to agree [00:28:53.536] to call them on the first and remind them to pay their rent, [00:28:57.646] because that's a reasonable accommodation. [00:28:59.266] >> Ah hum. [00:28:59.386] >>That's not that big of a burden on management to do [00:29:01.696] and it could save that person's housing. [00:29:05.206] So there's all sorts of reasonable accommodations. [00:29:08.886] You have a service animal and they're trying [00:29:11.526] to say it's a pet, service animals are not pets, you know, [00:29:16.506] and you're having issues with management over that, [00:29:19.066] we probably can assist you with that. [00:29:21.366] So a lot of different issues, you can't get in and out [00:29:25.406] of the pool area or the office or you feel [00:29:29.126] that they treated you different when you went to rent [00:29:31.466] because of your disability, or you have a, you know, [00:29:39.436] blind or impairment, seeing impairment [00:29:43.976] and they won't assist you with filling out the application, [00:29:47.296] you know, there's all sorts of things that are covered [00:29:50.686] under the Fair Housing Law and reasonable accommodations. [00:29:55.216] >> So Kathy Stark with the Austin Tenant's Council was [00:29:59.576] telling us that Austin has a 98 percent occupancy rate [00:30:05.886] and a 100 percent accessible housing occupancy rate [00:30:11.086] which means there's no accessible housing available, [00:30:14.186] I mean to speak of really. [00:30:17.306] >> There's no room in the Inn? [00:30:18.726] >> There's no room in the Inn, no. [00:30:20.896] So if you're looking for accessible housing [00:30:25.316] and you've got to start early expect a 3 to 5 year wait [00:30:32.346] on some units, get on as many lists as possible, [00:30:36.386] talk to as many people, talk to Kathy Stark [00:30:39.556] at the Austin Tenant's Council, Jennifer at ADAPT, there's a lot [00:30:43.756] of fine folks at ADAPT that know somebody that's got a [00:30:47.036] unit somewhere. [00:30:48.456] >> Yeah. [00:30:48.736] >> Um, Dave you've got room at your house? [00:30:51.706] >> Just use whatever resources you can find. [00:30:54.736] Definitely the Internet's out there and there's a lot [00:30:56.956] of people out there willing to help. [00:30:59.146] >> I think also there's a website that's called [00:31:02.686] gosection8.com and they also might be a resource. [00:31:08.526] >> Oh, we'll have to check that out and we'll put it [00:31:10.366] on our summary page when we get more information on that. [00:31:14.896] We spoke with Rosa Gonzalez-Abrego [00:31:19.306] over at Easter Seals. [00:31:20.926] Now Easter Seals has been known to work with housing for people [00:31:25.906] with disabilities for a number of years. [00:31:29.366] They've got several programs. [00:31:31.986] They've got their HUD section 811, I talked to Rosa [00:31:37.256] about that; no openings, 3 to 5 year waiting list. [00:31:43.096] They also have a home of your own program [00:31:49.526] where they will provide up to 20,000 dollars [00:31:53.846] down payment assistance on a house if you have a disability [00:31:58.236] if you qualify, if you take their classes, etcetera, [00:32:01.786] etcetera; except this year they're out of money [00:32:04.876] so if you're looking to buy a home they're not in a position [00:32:10.166] to help you out this year. [00:32:12.416] They have done that in the past though. [00:32:14.896] They've got other programs. [00:32:17.616] They've got the Critical Housing Accessibility Modification [00:32:23.416] Program where if you have a disability and you need a ramp [00:32:28.096] or some sort of grab rail something like that [00:32:32.246] in your home they can help pay for that. [00:32:35.406] >>There is also the Architectural Barrier Removal [00:32:41.136] Program from the city of Austin and if you want details [00:32:45.326] about that call 512-974-3100. [00:32:51.306] >> Well got the number memorized. [00:32:53.836] >> You must have called that a time or two. [00:32:55.126] >> Yeah. [00:32:55.426] >> Yeah, once or twice. [00:32:57.016] >> And what do they specialize in, [00:32:59.426] what do they do for you Jennifer? [00:33:00.876] >> They actually, they can install ramps or grab bars, [00:33:04.286] widen doorways, that's the most expensive type [00:33:07.346] of modification people see, that and putting [00:33:10.216] in a roll-in shower those are the big bears as far [00:33:14.216] as modifications are concerned. [00:33:15.986] >> And if you've ever looked for apartment [00:33:18.046] with a roll-in shower, it's near impossible. [00:33:22.036] >> Right, unless they're federally funded a lot [00:33:25.306] of those have roll-in showers set aside. [00:33:28.776] It's also popular in some types of apartments [00:33:31.766] that weren't necessarily full-tilt accessible just [00:33:35.856] adaptable, but they're rare. [00:33:39.386] >> Easter Seals can also help with some vouchers [00:33:42.676] to get housing, but again get [00:33:48.556] on these lists we'll have all the information [00:33:51.106] on our summary page. [00:33:52.926] Now Jennifer you and I spoke to Jesse Koch [00:33:58.726] with the Smart Housing Program. [00:34:02.006] >> Yeah. [00:34:02.076] >> What can you tell us about that? [00:34:04.506] >> Well Smart Housing is a type of funding [00:34:08.146] where they give basically incentives, [00:34:11.266] abatements to developers to get them [00:34:15.246] to provide affordable housing and most [00:34:19.476] of it is single family homes, so that if you're looking [00:34:24.226] for a single family home situation [00:34:27.026] and you're a first time home buyer, you can also look [00:34:30.606] into Smart Housing, but it's going [00:34:32.396] to take a little bit higher income it's not really a section [00:34:34.956] 8 type of thing, you have to have the ability to pay. [00:34:38.536] >> So what did you just say Gene? [00:34:40.216] You said Smart Housing? [00:34:41.806] I mean I have a Smart phone and now I've got a Smart TV, [00:34:46.066] now I can have a Smart house too? [00:34:47.716] >> Yeah and you might get a Smart watch, [00:34:49.486] but S.M.A.R.T. Housing is safe mixed income accessible, [00:34:56.776] which we all need, reasonably priced and transit oriented [00:35:01.926] and of course reasonably prices means none of us can afford it. [00:35:06.126] But, what really struck me [00:35:10.016] about this program was the developers give certain [00:35:14.166] financial incentives for developing Smart Housing. [00:35:18.636] >> Right. [00:35:20.106] >> Now the accessible part is visitable part. [00:35:27.646] >> Yeah, visitable is the most basic shell [00:35:31.626] of accessibility wide enough doorways, [00:35:34.346] hallways that are accessible, the bathroom you can get into [00:35:40.406] but there's not really a turning radius in a lot of cases, [00:35:43.756] so you might have situations where small bathroom, [00:35:48.476] they'll be backing in the wall [00:35:52.656] so that you can install grab bars [00:35:54.336] but they won't automatically be installed. [00:35:56.546] So it's a very basic shell and it's great [00:36:00.326] because it'll keep you from having to redo the doorways [00:36:03.736] and things like that and there's a no-step entrance [00:36:06.636] so you don't have to build a ramp, yeah so it'll save a lot [00:36:10.166] of money when you're moving into it and even [00:36:12.686] if you're a renter once these houses get built, [00:36:15.956] you'll have a housing stock and you won't have [00:36:18.236] to necessarily always call around [00:36:21.006] and find an accessible place over time. [00:36:25.846] It won't be right away, once they start doing it, [00:36:28.396] it'll take a bit of time for them to really get going, [00:36:32.596] but it'll be helpful cause right now when you're looking [00:36:36.166] for a single family home that is at least visitable, [00:36:41.546] it's kind of hard to find; they've been doing it [00:36:43.926] for a while for about 15 years, but once this new version [00:36:49.916] of it goes into effect it'll apply [00:36:51.606] to everything even housing that's not built low income. [00:36:57.616] >> Now you called this meeting with Jesse Koch who's a planner [00:37:02.056] over at the city because you wanted to ADAPT involved [00:37:07.386] in the planning process and wanted to contribute some ideas. [00:37:12.526] >> Yeah, she wanted to get with us and see some ideas, [00:37:17.036] get some information from us about our ideas about how [00:37:21.216] to make housing more transit oriented. [00:37:24.376] That seems to be kind of tricky for a lot of developers [00:37:29.376] because the most affordable tracks [00:37:32.366] of land are the ones furthest out, so you can be on the bus [00:37:37.216] for like 4 hours one way trying to get into town [00:37:40.816] to do your business and that's kind of hard. [00:37:44.336] >> And when they talk about transit oriented they mean [00:37:47.506] within a half a mile of a bus stop? [00:37:50.136] >> Yeah, that's the goal. [00:37:51.746] That's not currently what happens now, [00:37:54.476] but there was a resolution before the council [00:37:58.816] and I think they're going to try [00:37:59.766] to get it done before the new council that, [00:38:02.816] the 10-1 council rolls in. [00:38:06.136] >> Okay, now Jennifer you mention Visitability before. [00:38:10.686] Dave, I think this is the most exciting and promising part [00:38:15.416] of the whole accessible housing show what Jennifer is doing, [00:38:21.576] because it's really a paradigm shift in how we think [00:38:25.616] about the future of our housing. [00:38:27.856] >> Certainly is a whole lot of controversy around it [00:38:30.566] for the city of Austin for the longest time. [00:38:33.236] >> Yeah. [00:38:33.526] >> I mean a lot of people got their feathers ruffled and, [00:38:36.666] you know, the folks like Adapt people like Jennifer [00:38:39.856] at ADAPT kept going back to them and saying look, you know, [00:38:44.376] we just want these basic things please just listen [00:38:47.946] to us because, you know, as you and I know just because you're [00:38:51.776] up and around walking today doesn't mean that you, you know, [00:38:54.916] you might be tomorrow, you know. [00:38:57.086] >> Yeah. [00:38:57.336] >> Things happen, accidents happen [00:38:59.986] and you know you got loved ones that are aging that you may want [00:39:04.766] to be able to help later, so it's really a win-win situation [00:39:08.856] for everybody, so why don't you; let's take a step back. [00:39:13.726] >> Yeah. [00:39:13.916] >> And tell us about Visitability, what it is [00:39:16.506] and then kind of what steps you had to take. [00:39:19.726] >> Well that was our overall goal [00:39:22.046] when we first got Visitability and Smart Housing [00:39:25.336] and the publicly funded housing, our goal ultimately was [00:39:31.136] to get it so that every single family home would be visitable [00:39:35.626] and thankfully we were able to do it this year and, you know, [00:39:40.896] it really was paradigm shift and hopefully once it's in place [00:39:45.306] and people realize it really doesn't affect the community [00:39:49.016] in a negative way, it has a lot of very positive things going [00:39:54.296] for it and so many people are going to benefit from it [00:39:57.556] that don't realize it yet, [00:39:59.836] because like you said you're not always going to know [00:40:03.186] that the baby being born to your family is going [00:40:06.096] to be disabled or not. [00:40:06.846] >> Right. [00:40:08.146] >> Or, you know, your kids could end up going to school [00:40:11.926] with a kid that wants to come over and you know have a sleep [00:40:15.886] over or trick or treat or something like that [00:40:18.456] and now your kids can interact with one another and not have [00:40:22.326] to worry about it like we did, I mean it was a big ordeal [00:40:25.306] when I would go stay over at someone's house [00:40:28.356] when I was a kid. [00:40:28.896] >> Yeah. [00:40:29.166] >> Because they'd have to drag me up the steps and figure [00:40:32.336] out how to get me in the bathroom and all those kinds [00:40:35.496] of things and, you know, future generations [00:40:38.686] of disabled kids will just be able to come and go [00:40:40.896] as they please and not have to worry about how to deal [00:40:44.516] with being in a inhospitable environment. [00:40:48.866] >> Sure, but I mean all of these changes and fixes to the plans [00:40:53.026] of houses it's got to cost contractors millions [00:40:56.176] and millions and billions of dollars more right? [00:40:58.516] >> No, not at all. [00:40:59.696] It's going to cost like, I think the average number [00:41:03.626] for Smart housing was like 200 dollars per house, so. [00:41:07.436] >> Wow. [00:41:07.766] >> Pennies, over a 30 year mortgage you're not going [00:41:10.666] to notice that. [00:41:11.456] >> Sure and I mean as long [00:41:12.296] as you're doing it from the beginning. [00:41:13.606] >> Yeah [00:41:13.776] >> You don't have the cost involved. [00:41:15.396] >> Yeah, if you retrofit. [00:41:15.856] >> Right? I mean it makes sense to do it from the start. [00:41:17.856] >> If you retrofit that's where the costs are, but building it [00:41:21.276] from scratch, no way it's not a problem. [00:41:23.596] >> So this Visitability ordinance that you worked [00:41:28.676] on to get the city to pass says that developers [00:41:32.556] when they're building single family houses [00:41:38.066] that they have to have: [00:41:39.446] >> A no-step entrance. [00:41:42.406] >> No-step entrance. [00:41:44.176] >> There has to be a clear pathway so that you can go [00:41:46.896] from room to room or through the hallways and then there have [00:41:52.056] to be thermostats and the light switches and the outlets [00:41:57.796] at an accessible level and then let's see what am I leaving out, [00:42:03.566] the bathroom like we talked about [00:42:06.586] and it doesn't necessarily, it can be bigger but a lot [00:42:10.926] of them are going to be kind of small so it won't be [00:42:13.896] like a full accessible bathroom but you can put in the grab bars [00:42:17.766] and you'll be able to go the toilet and use the tub [00:42:20.946] or shower, you might have to do a little bit of adaptation to it [00:42:25.526] if you can't get in or out of a tub, but. [00:42:30.606] >> Now Dave mentioned that there was a lot of opposition [00:42:33.126] to this initially, but you won over a lot of people. [00:42:38.826] >> Yeah it was kind of, in a way sort of a miracle [00:42:41.886] or a Hail Mary pass, you know, you can do it and you're hoping [00:42:45.856] that somebody's going listen, but you know, it took 15 years [00:42:50.626] so you just kind of keep plugging at it [00:42:52.766] and finally then listened and heard and I think it helped [00:42:56.726] that a lot of the people that are serving [00:42:58.976] on the council right now are actually section 8 landlords [00:43:03.316] and have interactive with low-income people [00:43:05.516] with disabilities even beyond ADAPT so it kind [00:43:08.366] or reinforced what we were saying [00:43:11.336] so that they knew it was true from personal experience. [00:43:14.436] >> So this just shows how important it is for people [00:43:18.716] with disabilities to get involved in local politics. [00:43:23.246] >> Absolutely, especially now with 10-1 it's going to, [00:43:26.966] I think be a little bit like going back to the beginning [00:43:31.116] because so many of them will be so very inexperienced; [00:43:34.006] I've been to a forum and you know they seem a lot of them [00:43:38.466] like their heart's in the right place but you can see [00:43:40.756] that they're going to need to be. [00:43:42.116] >> The new people of the city council. [00:43:45.156] >> Right, yeah. [00:43:45.696] They seem like they're going to need some assistance [00:43:48.766] in understanding what our reality is, so you know, [00:43:52.716] we'll need to be plugged in and involved, so please anybody [00:43:56.426] out there that wants to get involved with Adapt [00:43:58.536] to give us a call at 512-442-0252. [00:44:05.206] >> What I really like about this Visitability ordinance is [00:44:09.286] that it creates a sense of community, anyone regardless [00:44:13.766] of mobility impairment or whatever can visit anyone [00:44:17.596] in that community because there will be very, [00:44:21.826] the architectural will be very amenable to them [00:44:26.546] and I just think that's fantastic. [00:44:29.426] >> It's great news. [00:44:30.246] >> Yeah. It's going to be wonderful. [00:44:32.196] Hopefully, we'll you know be around once [00:44:36.196] that becomes the norm and they've gotten a few years [00:44:40.176] under their belt; I'm looking forward to that part [00:44:42.676] when they really get to know what they're doing [00:44:46.936] and get going uniformly across the city, [00:44:50.506] it's going to be fun to watch it come in. [00:44:52.046] >> And then as you say we've got to work [00:44:56.176] with the new city council coming in to educate them [00:45:00.176] on the importance of Visitability [00:45:03.706] so they don't appeal it. [00:45:05.686] >> Yeah. And we're hoping to since [00:45:09.056] so many other projects are coming in that are [00:45:12.896] like the services connected to the housing we're trying [00:45:19.696] to get more integration into the community and there's resistance [00:45:25.446] from people that are developing housing in doing that, [00:45:30.086] so we're going to try to work on integration [00:45:32.726] because their knee jerk reaction [00:45:34.946] to our community is well don't you want us to take care of you [00:45:39.696] and we want people to be able to get services and we want people [00:45:43.596] to be able to get housing, but having your landlord in control [00:45:47.606] of your services and having the people [00:45:50.636] that are controlling your services involved [00:45:53.056] in your housing is a little bit too much power, [00:45:55.546] so we'd like to deal with that next. [00:45:59.956] >> And you just did a fantastic job. [00:46:02.896] >> Now Dave, on the subject of building a house [00:46:06.476] if you can't find and accessible apartment, [00:46:09.916] you can build or buy a house. [00:46:11.716] >> Right, and sometimes [00:46:12.766] that just means retrofitting the house that you're in currently [00:46:18.176] or it can be you know going to the other extreme as I did, [00:46:22.156] we found it was actually more cheaper and more beneficial [00:46:27.696] for us to build a house from, you know, we worked on the plans [00:46:33.286] for about 2 years on designing and making sure [00:46:37.646] that the doorways were accessible and you talked [00:46:40.396] about turning radiuses earlier Jennifer; [00:46:43.556] on our plans we have circles all over the plans because we wanted [00:46:49.756] to make sure that we had a 5 foot radius to turn just [00:46:54.386] about everywhere, like in all the bathrooms and you know [00:46:58.546] between this sink and this wall, can we make a circle there? [00:47:01.936] >> Yeah. [00:47:02.076] >> Can we turn? [00:47:02.996] So, there are circles all over our plans [00:47:05.866] that are 5 foot radius circles to make sure [00:47:10.096] that we could make those turns. [00:47:12.586] >> And Dave if you don't mind if I could point [00:47:15.426] out your lovely wife Terri is also a wheelchair user [00:47:18.896] and I think. [00:47:19.786] >> Yes. [00:47:19.966] >> You mentioned to me at one time [00:47:21.306] that if you're both charging your wheelchair at night you got [00:47:24.986] to make sure you got room for two. [00:47:27.396] >> Yeah, we had to make sure that, you know, [00:47:29.176] we you know we'd lay things out, we'd lay the furniture out [00:47:33.116] and make sure you know once we parked our chairs [00:47:37.376] that if somebody had to get up and go to the bathroom [00:47:39.496] in the middle of the night, a wheelchair wasn't sitting [00:47:43.186] in the wrong spot blocking the bathroom door. [00:47:46.176] So, you know, we had to kind of do all these stories in our head [00:47:50.326] and on paper in the plans and that's one of the things [00:47:53.236] that took so long to do, we wanted to be able to get [00:47:56.526] in every door without having, you know, big steep ramps. [00:48:02.386] >> Yeah. [00:48:02.666] >> Coming up to every side, so we make you know, zero entries [00:48:07.646] in all the doors and landscaped it so that, you know, [00:48:11.946] the ramps are there just kind of blend it in with the scenery. [00:48:16.076] Another thing that we did is put pocket doors in for every door [00:48:20.766] because you get through a doorway sometimes it's hard [00:48:24.486] to turn around and actually close the door once you're [00:48:27.506] on the other side of it if the door opens in, [00:48:29.536] so we put pocket doors in and so [00:48:31.856] from either side we could actually easily close the door. [00:48:35.866] >> That's cool. [00:48:37.186] >> So, and those are some things that work for us and we wanted [00:48:39.456] to be able to get underneath the sinks in the kitchen [00:48:42.176] and the bathroom, underneath the cooktop [00:48:44.356] so we created roll under cooktops. [00:48:47.636] A lot of times in houses today the stove and the oven are [00:48:53.536] above one another, so you can either reach the stove [00:48:56.836] or you can reach the oven or the microwave oven, [00:49:00.596] so we separated them and put them on each side of the stove [00:49:03.906] so that we could get to both at the right height, [00:49:07.156] but once again just because someone has a disability not [00:49:12.846] everything, not every adaption [00:49:15.346] to a house is going to work for them. [00:49:17.076] So you need to make sure that if you're retrofitting [00:49:20.306] or if you're building that the accessibility options [00:49:25.716] that you choose work for you and that are something [00:49:30.666] that you can get into and be able to use. [00:49:34.186] >> Now you mentioned appliances. [00:49:36.506] If you're looking for accessible appliances out there [00:49:40.136] for your home and you don't see what you're looking [00:49:44.236] for contact General Electric or Frigidaire they've got books [00:49:49.706] on all their products and you can even find an oven [00:49:55.406] that has a door that swings open sideways rather than pulls down. [00:50:00.186] >> Cool. [00:50:00.596] >> So, yeah, yeah really makes a big difference but you know, [00:50:04.816] the other thing that you did Dave [00:50:05.946] that really impressed me is you've got all kinds of remotes [00:50:11.056] at your place and this is something you can do [00:50:14.456] when you've got a home or apartment just [00:50:17.016] to make things easier, I took your cue [00:50:20.046] and I've got a remote now that I can operate various outlets [00:50:26.326] in my house so if I can't or have trouble reaching a light [00:50:30.936] or even turning on a coffee pot, I've got a remote [00:50:36.336] that can activate that outlet, just makes life so much easier. [00:50:41.266] >> Sure in the integration with home controls it used to be [00:50:44.286] so hard to find anything, you know, [00:50:47.036] you had to special order stuff on the Internet, [00:50:49.176] but now they have them at all the electronic stores in town [00:50:53.276] and most of them will sync up and be able [00:50:55.926] to use your phone whether you use an Android phone [00:51:00.606] or an Apple phone if you've got a Smart phone, [00:51:03.256] chances are really good there's an application out there [00:51:05.456] to be able to turn on and off your lights [00:51:08.806] or even adjust your thermostat if you get the right thermostat [00:51:13.046] and those are also available at many of the electronic stores, [00:51:16.736] so when you go to bed at night if you take your phone with you [00:51:19.996] and you get hot in the middle of the night, [00:51:21.896] I just punch a few buttons on my phone [00:51:23.926] and can bring the temperature down, so. [00:51:26.476] >> That's really cool. [00:51:27.406] >> Yeah. [00:51:27.916] >> Yeah, you're the king of remote access. [00:51:31.766] You have got it all figured out. [00:51:34.696] The one thing I did was I put a digital thermostat in my place [00:51:39.716] so I can; easy to see what temperature it's at [00:51:44.116] and I could control it 1 degree at a time, but there's all kinds [00:51:49.346] of things you can do to make your house more accessible, [00:51:52.606] more enjoyable, and we hope you visit our summary page [00:51:58.626] and see some of the resources that we've found [00:52:01.576] and Jennifer can't thank you enough [00:52:04.176] for being here with us today. [00:52:05.626] >> Well thanks for having me it was fun. [00:52:08.406] >> And a, we hope you'll visit us next time [00:52:11.846] on the Gene and Dave Show. [00:52:13.166] >> So Jennifer we talked a lot about people [00:52:14.946] with different disabilities and being able [00:52:17.636] to express their stories and to help with the fight on things [00:52:22.966] like Visitability and just overall accessibility and I know [00:52:28.016] that ADAPT is more than willing to, you know, [00:52:32.256] to have more people come in and tell their story not only [00:52:36.316] to them, but to Austin and to the legislators and to the world [00:52:42.496] and get help to get these laws passed and if somebody's [00:52:46.766] out there and excited and wants to come in and help or wants [00:52:49.966] to join in on some of the fun what's the best way they can [00:52:53.326] do that? [00:52:53.836] >> We have a meeting coming up on October 30th from 3 to 5 [00:52:57.546] at the ADAPT office and the address is 1640-A E. [00:53:02.026] Second Street. [00:53:03.026] >> Okay. [00:53:03.286] >> And if you have any questions, call 512-442-0252. [00:53:08.666] >> Okay and there's a website as well, right? [00:53:10.576] >> Yeah, I think you have that on your resource page. [00:53:14.056] >> Or actually look it's right there [00:53:15.406] at the bottom of your screen. [00:53:16.566] >> Oh, okay there. [00:53:17.536] >> Right there, oh okay. [00:53:17.986] >> Magic how that, how that comes up. [00:53:20.246] So, since it's on the 30th do I have [00:53:22.096] to wear a Halloween costume? [00:53:23.446] >> No you don't have to, you're welcome to. [00:53:25.276] >> Alright. [00:53:25.896] >> We like freaky stuff, the freakier the better. [00:53:28.986] >> Alright, well we'll see you on October 30th [00:53:31.406] and we'll see you then. [00:53:33.526] Bye for now. [00:53:34.536] >> Thanks. [00:53:34.806] >> Adios. [00:53:37.196] >> This program was made possible from the support of VSA [00:53:41.156] of Texas and the Amerigroup. [00:53:44.516] ( Music ) [00:53:58.346] >> Rise up Amerigroup. [00:54:00.516] ( Music ) [00:54:40.500] [00:54:51.130]